Haworthia Plant Named &#39;LOCK02&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Haworthia  plant named ‘LOCK02’, which is characterized by spirally-arranged, light green foliage which is densely covered with prominent linear protuberances presenting as white raised ribs which transversely encircle both the adaxial and abaxial leaf surfaces. The new variety has shown to be uniform and stable in the resulting generations from asexual propagation.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to the Community Plant Variety Rightsapplication number 2019/2965, filed Nov. 13, 2019, which is hereinincorporated by reference.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus andspecies of the novel variety disclosed herein is Haworthia limifolia.

Variety denomination: The inventive variety of Haworthia hybriddisclosed herein has been given the variety denomination ‘LOCK02’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: ‘LOCK02’ is a spontaneous whole-plant mutation of Haworthialimifolia ‘LOCK01’ (Community Plant Variety Rights grant number 28557)which was discovered in the spring of 2010 at a commercial greenhouse in's-Gravenzande, the Netherlands. The mutation was noted for its lightgreen foliage with prominent white ribs encircling the leaves.

Asexual Reproduction: Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘LOCK02’,by way of meristematic tissue culture, was first initiated in the springof 2010 at the inventor's commercial greenhouse in 's-Gravenzande, theNetherlands. Through three subsequent generations, the unique featuresof this cultivar have proven to be stable and true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘LOCK02’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The followingtraits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the uniquecharacteristics of ‘LOCK02’. These characteristics in combinationdistinguish ‘LOCK02’ as a new and distinct Haworthia cultivar:

1. ‘LOCK02’ exhibits thick, succulent foliage that is spirally-arrangedin a basal rosette; and

2. ‘LOCK02’ exhibits long, broad foliage; and

3. ‘LOCK02’ exhibits light green foliage which is densely covered withprominent linear protuberances presenting as white raised ribs whichtransversely encircle both the adaxial and abaxial leaf surfaces.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary plant of‘LOCK02’ grown in a commercial greenhouse in 's-Gravenzande, theNetherlands. This plant is approximately 12 months old, shown planted inan 8.5 cm container.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the typical foliagearrangement of ‘LOCK02.

FIG. 3 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the adaxial surface of themature foliage ‘LOCK02’.

FIG. 4 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the abaxial surface of themature foliage ‘LOCK02’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following observations and measurements made in October of 2019describe averages from a sample set of six specimens of 12 months old‘LOCK02’ plants grown in 8.5 cm nursery containers at commercialgreenhouse in Heerhugowaard, the Netherlands. Plants were produced usingconventional greenhouse production protocols for Haworthia plants whichconsisted of minimal overhead irrigation and regular fertilizerapplications, and biological control measures against insect pests.Plants were grown under shade and no photoperiodic treatments orartificial light was given to the plants.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristicswill vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘LOCK02’ hasnot been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Wheredimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is tobe understood that such characteristics are approximations or averagesset forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety maydiffer from the descriptions set forth herein with variations inenvironmental, climatic and cultural conditions. Color notations arebased on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The RoyalHorticultural Society, London, 2015 (sixth edition).

A botanical description of ‘LOCK02’ and a comparison with the parent andclosest known comparator is provided below.

-   Plant description:    -   -   Growth habit.—Succulent perennial with foliage growing in a            stemless, non-branched basal rosette.        -   Plant shape.—Flattened globular.        -   Height from soil level to top of foliar plane.—7.3 cm.        -   Plant spread.—Average of 14.8 cm.        -   Growth rate.—Slow.        -   Plant vigor.—Moderately vigorous.        -   Propagation.—Type — Leaf cuttings. Time to initiate rooting            — Approximately 10 days at 18 degrees Celsius. Crop time —            From an in vitro micropropagule to a marketable plant in a            8.5 cm container takes approximately one year.        -   Disease and pest resistance or susceptibility.—Neither            resistance nor susceptibility to typical Aloe pests and            diseases has been observed.        -   Environmental tolerances.—Adapt to, at least, USDA Zones 10            to 12 and temperatures as high as 40 degrees Celsius; low            tolerance to rain; high tolerance to wind.-   Root system:    -   -   General.—Fine, well-branched fibrous roots.-   Stems:    -   -   Branching habit.—Leaves in a non-branching basal rosettes;            no main branches or lateral branches present.-   Foliage:    -   -   Arrangement.—Spirally arranged in a rosette.        -   Division.—Simple.        -   Attachment.—Sessile.        -   Quantity.—24 leaves per rosette.        -   Shape.—Narrow deltoid to nearly lanceolate succulent            foliage.        -   Dimensions.—8.0 cm long, 2.4 cm wide, and 0.7 cm thick, on            average.        -   Aspect.—Very slightly concaved and slightly curled downward.        -   Attitude.—Juvenile foliage at the center of the rosette is            held upright; foliage becomes progressively more relaxed            towards the outer whorls of mature foliage, at an average            angle of 45 degrees from horizontal.        -   Apex.—Narrow acute to long apiculate, with a very short soft            mucronate tip.        -   Base.—Broad cuneate.        -   Margin.—Entire yet irregular due to the transverse rows of            linear protuberances across the leaf surface which extend to            the margins.        -   Texture, adaxial surface.—Glabrous and densely covered with            conspicuous linear protuberances arranged in transverse rows            across the leaf surface; an average of 22 row of            protuberances per leaf; protuberances are approximately 0.1            cm high.        -   Texture, abaxial surface.—Glabrous and densely covered with            conspicuous linear protuberances arranged in transverse rows            across the leaf surface; an average of 22 row of            protuberances per leaf; protuberances are approximately 0.1            cm high.        -   Luster, adaxial surface.—Matte.        -   Luster, abaxial surface.—Matte.        -   Color.—Juvenile foliage, adaxial surface — Green, nearest to            RHS 138A; protuberances are colored white, nearest to RHS            N155A. Juvenile foliage, abaxial surface — Green, nearest to            RHS 138A; protuberances are colored white, nearest to RHS            N155A. Mature foliage, adaxial surface — Green, nearest to            in between RHS NN137A and NN137B; fading to a lighter shade            of green towards the base, nearest to RHS 143B; linear            protuberances are colored in between yellow-green and white,            nearest to RHS 145D and N155A. Mature foliage, abaxial            surface — Nearest to in between green and yellow-green, RHS            138A and 147A; linear protuberances are colored in between            yellow-green and white, nearest to RHS 145D and N155A.        -   Venation.—No venation is visible.        -   Petiole.—No petiole; leaves are sessile.-   Inflorescence: No flowering has been observed to date.

COMPARISONS WITH THE PARENT PLANT AND CLOSEST KNOWN COMPARATOR

Plants of the new cultivar ‘LOCK02’ differ from the parent, Haworthialimifolia ‘LOCK01’ (Community Plant Variety Rights grant number 28557),in the following characteristics described in Table 1 below.

TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘LOCK02’ ‘LOCK01' Foliage shape. Broader than‘LOCK01’. Narrower than ‘LOCK02’. Foliage length. Longer than ‘LOCK01’.Shorter than ‘LOCK02’. Foliage attitude. More upright than More relaxedthan ‘LOCK01’. ‘LOCK02’.

COMPARISONS WITH THE CLOSEST KNOWN COMPARATOR

Plants of the new cultivar ‘LOCK02’ differ from the closest knowncommercial comparator, Haworthia maxima ‘AMIAL1601’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No.31,430), in the following characteristics described in Table 2 below.

TABLE 2 Characteristic ‘LOCK02’ ‘AMIAL1601’ General coloration Lightershade of green Lighter shade of green of the mature foli- than‘AMIAL1601’. than ‘LOCK02’. age. Foliar protuber- Conspicuous linearOrbicular protuber- ances. protuberances presenting ances arranged in ascontinuous raised ribs irregular, wavy which transversely transverserows. encircle both the adaxial and abaxial leaf surfaces. Generalcoloration In between yellow-green Light greyed-green. of the foliar andwhite, generally protuberances. appearing as white.

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Haworthiaplant named ‘LOCK02’, substantially as described and illustrated herein.